That is good advice Judy - materials for renovations are very expensive. We built on an 800 square foot addition to the back of our house - no plumbing - which is VERY expensive - just concrete, wood, windows, sheetrock, shingles, paint, etc etc. Eight years ago, it cost $25,000 - and that was for materials only, we did all the work ourselves. Labor is double the materials - so if we'd had it done, it would have cost $50,000. And that was only the building materials, not the window treatments, and decorations.
I could not believe how expensive flooring is!!! We put hardwood floors in our living room and bedroom and it was about $3000 - that was materials only, not labor, cause again, we did it ourselves. When we built on to the house, we wanted to stain the concrete, rather than put down wood or tile. Again, to have it stained professionally was outrageous!!! So, we did it ouselves and it looks great.
The message is that renovations are seriously expensive! I'd only buy a house that needed lots of renovations, if I knew I would have plenty of cash to put into to it. Houses can be money pits if lots of things go wrong!
I know you want your own house Lindsay, and I hope it happens soon! But be very careful what you buy. You don't want to have only a house and then not be able to do anything else.
Good luck in your search! But I really think Betsi is right - just move to TEXAS!
